Post Reporter Is Shoved By Top Aide to Speaker

By JEFFREY SCHMALZ, Special to the New York Times

Published: October 16, 1987

ALBANY, Oct. 15—
A reporter was repeatedly shoved, then knocked to the floor today by a top aide to Assembly Speaker Mel Miller as the reporter tried to question the aide about possible improprieties involving the Assembly payroll.

The reporter, Fredric U. Dicker, the 43-year-old Albany bureau chief of The New York Post, said that, once on the floor, he was kicked two or three times by the aide, Norman Adler. Mr. Dicker, who has been bureau chief five years, did not appear to be seriously hurt but visited a doctor today, complaining of back pain.

Mr. Miller, in a four-paragraph written statement, called the incident ''regrettable,'' adding, ''I would like to apologize to Mr. Dicker.'' He also apologized in person, and Mr. Adler apologized by telephone. 'I'm in a Funny Position'

Mr. Adler, in an interview, said that he had heard Mr. Dicker might seek to press charges or file a lawsuit and that his lawyer had urged him not to comment. ''I'm in a funny position,'' he said. ''I'm not free to defend myself.'' The police said tonight that no charges had been filed.

The shoving began as Mr. Dicker and a freelance photographer went to the offices of the Assembly House Operations Committee, which rents space in a private office building. They were joined by a reporter for WRGB-TV in Schenectady and a television cameraman.

Prosecutors are investigating whether the committee, which performs various services for Assembly members, such as overseeing mailings to constituents, improperly used state employees to work in election campaigns. The reporters wanted a tour of the offices.

Mr. Adler refused and asked them to leave. Mr. Dicker then pursued him down a long narrow hallway.Mr. Adler spun around, demanded the reporter leave and began shoving him.

When Mr. Dicker asked whether the committee headquarters were not public offices, Mr. Adler responded: ''No it's not. Not for you.'' Incident Was Videotaped

Videotape of the incident, which was made by WRGB, clearly shows Mr. Dicker being shoved to the floor by Mr. Adler. But because of the camera angle, it is not clear from the tape that Mr. Dicker was kicked.

However, the WRGB reporter, Judy Sanders, said that once Mr. Dicker was on the floor, Mr. Adler repeatedly ''jabbed him'' with his foot and ''was shoving him with his foot.''

The incident came as tension has been building in state government over an increasing number of investigations by prosecutors into possible payroll abuses in the Legislature. On Tuesday, The Post carried a column by Mr. Dicker accusing the Speaker of seeking to block the investigations and calling Mr. Adler ''one of the most abrasive personalities at the Legislature.''

Mr. Dicker, has drawn criticism from politicians, including former Gov. Hugh L. Carey and Governor Cuomo. Some of them have accused him of being acerbic, and he sometimes winds up in arguments with officials during news conferences. Mr. Dicker maintains that the officials are often difficult to pin down and that it is sometimes necessary to press them.

Also at the Capitol today, the Cuomo administration agreed to make public documentation provided by members of the Legislature when they request money in the state budget for what are known as member items, or special projects in their districts. Reporters had requested the data as part of efforts to uncover possible wrongdoing.

Photo of Norman Adler standing over New York Post reporter Fredric U. Dicker during altercation (The New York Post/Jim Carras)